love his appearing

4:8 love his appearing. Paul had “loved His appearing” ever since his conversion. In his earlier ministry, he had thought he would be among those still living when Christ returned (see on I Thessalonians 4:17). As time went on, he realized he must die before that day, but he knew that, for the believer, “to die is gain” (Philippians 1:21). As he wrote this last epistle, he knew that “the time of my departure is at hand” (II Timothy 4:6).